Collapsible tree support



May 2, 1933. M. WATowsKl COLLAPSIBLE TREE SUPPORT Original Filed Sept. 50, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l May 2, 1933- M. wATowsKl 1,906,293

GOLLAPS IBLE TREE SUPPORT original Filed sept. 5o, 1929 2 Sheets-sheet 2 /Nl/EN TQQ Patented May 2, 1933 UNTD STA MIKE WATOWSKI, 0F LUMBERTON, BRITSH COLUMBIA, CANADA ooLLAPsIBrin TREE surnom:

Application led September 30, 1929, Serial No. 396,197, and in Ganada October 8, 1928. `Renewed- September This present invention relates to new and` useful improvements in a collapsible tree support and has for its' primary object the provision of a support particularly designed for supporting Christmas trees and the like, to firmly hold the same for display purposes.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a collapsible tree support of the character stated which is composed of the minimum number of parts, may be formed from stiff cardboard or the like and is constructed in such a manner that it may be readily folded to compact form when not in use; and when in use will serve to firmly hold, brace and support the tree.

A'further object of the invention resides in the provision of a collapsible tree support of the character stated which is of suoli construction thatit may be readily produced in large quantities at the minimum cost of production and labour and may be shipped in large quantities at a very low rate, owing to the small space required for the support when in collapsed condition.

To the accomplishment of these and related objects as shall become apparent as the description proceeds, my invention resides in the construction` combination and arrangement of parts as shallv be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

The invention will be best understood and can be more clearly described, when referenceis had to the drawings forming a part of this disclosure, wherein like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views.`

In the drawings Figure 1 is a plan view of the collapsible tree support, in blank form;

Figure 2 is a bottom plan of the tree support in s et up condition, for use;

Figure 3 is a vertical transverse section through the support, in use, and

Figure 4C is a perspective of the support in collapsed condition.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, it will be noted that the collapsible tree support is produced from a flat single blank 6 of octagonal form scored across its entire body on both sides along the lines of the eight triangular' section-s into which the blank is divided or marked with the scoring lines 7 all crossing at the center of the blank, the outer edge of each of the sections serving as the base of the triangle described by the section. In two of the diametrically opposed sections 8 of the blank 6, U-shape incisions 9 are made with the bight portions thereof opposed and the legs of the-incisions directed toward the straight outer or ,base edges of the sections 8, thus providing a pair of tongues l0 which may be bent at right angles or substantially right angles to the respective sections 8 of which they formed a part and brought into parallel overlapping relation within the stand produced from the blank when assembled and set up for use, and in which posit-ion the tongues 10-are in planes parallel with'base of the stand and the support on which it rests. A. securing member 1l, such asa nail or the like, may then be driven upwardly through the overlapping ends of the tongues l0 and into the bottom of the tree trunk 12, which latter is extended through the opening 13 provided therefor in the apex of the holder or support by cutting out the center of the blank which becomes the apeX of theholder or support when the latter is in set up condition. Attention may also be directed at this time, to the tact that when the blank is folded to form the holder or support, the several' sections 8 are folded over one another so that two adjacent sections 8 are positioned outwardly of and parallel with each section 8 carrying one of the tongues 10, thus making these opposite sides of theholder or support of triple thickness while the connecting sides at right Aangles thereto are of only single thickness. The thick sides have a row of rivets or other fasteners 14: extend ed through the lower portion thereof, below the tongues 10 to firmly hold together the several thicknesses of material or sections 8 in close engagement, the central fastener lll of each row being directly beneath one of the tongues 10 and thus strengthening the latter and preventing tearing of the section owing to strain on the tongue 10 from the weight of the tree resting on the overlapped tongues 10. When the tree is secured in the holder or support, thebottom of the tree t-runk l2 is firmly held against movement and the upper edge of each side of the holder or'support grips the tree trunk l2, thereby forming a firm bearing for the tree trunk above the lower end thereof and preventing tilting of the tree in either direction.

In producing the holder or support, the blank is formed from a sheet of cardboard or the like cut into octagonal shape with the tongues l0 cut in the two opposite sections of the blank and the score lines provided across the blank between the triangular sections thereof. The blank is then folded along the score lines to provide a square holder or support and the opposite sides of triple thickness provided with the rivets 14 through the thicknesses or sections thereof. The apex of the holder or support is cut off to provide a central opening for the tree to be supported in the holder or support. For shipping purposes, the completed holder or support may be folded flat with the thick sides thereof offset and then again folded to bring all four sides on top of one another, with the entire holder or support folded to triangular form and in which condition will occupy only the minimum amount of space. The apex of the holder or support need not be cut off until the tree is selected and the diameter thereof determined, so that the apex may be cut off in such a manner as to provide a central opening of proper size to snugly receive the tree trunk.

As the construction of the device has thus been described in detail, brief reference is now had to its use and modus operandi: The tree is selected and the central opening provided in the holder or support, according to the size of the tree trunk and after the tree trunk has been forced downwardly through the opening and onto the overlapped end of the tongues 10 which have been previously bent down and inwardly to receive the end of the tree trunk 12, the fastener l1 is driven upwardly through the overlapped ends of the tongues 10 and into the lower end of the tree trunk 12. Thus, the tree is firmly held in the support or holder and will be retained firmly in upright position therein, with the bottom wall of each section of the holder or support resting firmly on the floor or other surface on which it is positioned.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be manifest that a collapsible tree support is provided that will fulfill all the necessary requirements of such a device, but as many changes could be made in the above description and -Inany apparently widely different embodiments of my invention may be constructed within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit or scope thereof, it is intended that all matters contained in the said accompanying specification and drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limited sense.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is l. A collapsible tree support blank having score lines crossing the same at the centre and dametrically opposite tongues struck out from the blank; said tongues being located on opposite sides of the blank and connected in overlapped relation when the blank is folded to set up condition to serve as a tree support; several sectionsfof the blank being folded over the sides carrying the tongues and thus strengthening said sides; the last mentioned sides having fastening members extending through the severaly thicknesses thereof; the blank being folded so that the centre thereof forms the apex of the set up support blank and which apex is cut off, providing a central opening for the entrance of atree trunk in such a manner that the lower end of the tree is secured on the overlapped inner ends of the said tongues. Y

2. A collapsible tree support blank of octagonal form having score lines crossing the same and dividing the blank into triangular sections; said blank being adapted to be folded along the score lines thereof into a fiat triangular form for shipping and storage purposes; the blank when folded along its score lines to set up condition producing a rectangular tree support tapering toward its upper end; one diametrically opposite pair of sides of the support being of triple thickness and having tongues struck out therefrom and bent inwardly in overlapping engagement in a horizontal plane and fastened together and to the end of a tree trunk depending through the apex of the support and resting on said tongues; said pair of sides being strengthened by fastening members secured through the thicknesses thereof below vthe points from which the said tongues are extended.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

MIKE wATowsxI. [1.. Si 

